Runout returner for rolling mills



Sept 17, 1935., R. H. LowNDEs RUNOUT RETURNER FOR ROLLING MILLS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 13, 1953 www@ Y fw/ H, wl

,m /m W Y mmf Sem.. 17, 193. R. H. LOWNDES I RUNOUT RETURNER FOR ROLLING MILLS Filed July l5, 1955 -3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Sept. 17, 1935 PATENT OFFICE RUNOUT RETURNER FOR ROLLING MILLS Richard H. Lowndes, Atlanta, Ga., assignor to Atlantic Steel Company, Atlanta, Ga., a corporation of Delaware Application July 13, 1933, Serial No. `680,310

26 Claims.

The present apparatus includes a mechanism adapted for cooperation with a rolling mill wherein automatic means are provided for receiving a hot bar being rolled while travelling at its normal high. speed, elevating or lowering the same, as the case may require, translating the bar laterally to second pass position, shifting the same to its edge near the termination of the translatory movement, and forcing the bar, after it has assumed its edge position, to positively enter the second pass of the mill.

More specically this assembly utilizes a plurality of positively-driven cylindrical rollers which receive the bar from the mill, and Which,

l5 due to their construction and arrangement, cause the bar to travel laterally and to be shifted to edge position onto a plurality of grooved rollers, also positively driven, and'which, in cooperation with suitable pinch rolls, force the bar into a different mill pass.

Another feature of the invention is the spring mounting for the pinch roller assembly which compensates for the speed variation between the mill andthe return mechanism.

Other features necessarily include the particular arrangement of parts and details of construction whereby the desirable results are so readily and satisfactorily attained.

Reference will be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which:

Fig. l is a top plan view.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the pinch roll assembly with parts in section.

Fig.. 3 is a top plan of the pinch roll assembly.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation Vof same.

Y Fig. 5 is a side elevation. Y 40 Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section through the feed and pinch rolls, andl VFig. 7 is a transverse section illustrating the bar movement. Y Y

With reference to the details ofconstruction the bed plate l is illustrated as extended entirely beneath and supporting the assembly, including the scurceof power illustrated in the present instance as a motor .2.

in general there is mounted on the bed plate a plurality of cylindrical rollers 3, having parallel axes which are angularly aligned as regards the general direction of travel of the work, a plurality of grooved rollers 4 for receiving the work and returning the same to the mill 5, and the (C1. SI1- 43) pinch roller assembly between the grooved roller and the mill.

The cylindrical rollers 3 may be of such number as the nature of the work requires, and are mounted on shafts 6, supported by bearings l and 5 8, the bearing 'I supporting the outer extremity of the shafts l, and the bearing 8 being located adjacent the inner ends of the shafts. Said inner ends extend into the gear boxes 9, and are provided with bevel -gears Ill, through which l0 power is derived as hereinafter noted. All of the cylindrical rollers 3 are pitched at an angle to the direction of the travel of the work and, consequently., a translatory movement of the latter results, causing same to move to the outer l5 ends of the rolls, and to be dropped onto the grooved rolls 4, after substantially a axial movement which places the same on edge for return to the mill rolling action. The grooved rolls 4 alternate with the angularlyarranged cy- 2,0 lindrical rollers 3, although this arrangement may -be varied if deemed advisable. Said grooved rollers 4 include an outer peripheral flange I2, of materially greater diameter than the inner flange which operates to guard and 25 limit the movement of the bar in its travel, and to guide it to the base of the groove. The rollers 4 are each mounted on transverse shafts I4 at points adjacent the outer ends of the cylindrical rollers 3, so that the grooves will receive the bar 30 as it is delivered .by the rollers 3. Bearings I5 Vsupport the .shafts I4 and bevel gears I6 are .mounted on the inner ends of the shafts within the gear boxes I'I to drive the same from the power source 2. It will be noted that the axes 35 .of the shafts E and I4 areV not parallel. The drive to both the cylindrical rollers 3 and the grooved rollers 4 is through the beveled gears I8, mountedv on the line shaft le. The beveled gear 20 on the end of the line shaft I9 meshes with 40 Y the beveled gear 2| on the power shaft 22 of the motor2. The power shaft extends beyond the gear 2I tol drive the pinch roll 24 and 25.

The pinch rolls 24 and 25 cooperate to clamp .the work as it is moved by the grooved rolls 4 45 back to the ,rolling mill rolls 5, and positively feed the same. Due to the variation in the speed of surface travel of the return feed rolls and the mill rolls, there would be a tendency to stretch .the bar or injure the parts of the assembly. To 50v compensate for this variation the pinch rollers 24 and 25 Vare mounted to give slightly7 in the Y direction of travel of the work. This is accom- 28, whereby the rolls are free to swing with same within the scope dened by the spring retarder at the free end of the assembly. The frame 26 has extending inwardly therefrom, at its upper and lower corners, the extensions 29 in which the gudgeon pins 21 and 28 seat, the pins being suitably supported by the frame 3B mounted on the bed plate I. This arrangement provides a vertical axis for the horizontal swinging movement of the frame 26, and the rollers 24 and 25 carried there-by. The lower roller 25, mounted on the shaft 3|, is supported by xed bearings 32 and 33 carried by the frame 26. The upper roller 24 is mounted on the shaft 34, the inner end of which is supported by bearing 35. The bearing 35 is pivoted to the frame by means of pivot pin 36, the latter extending horizontally and transversely of the assembly and movement on the pivot is provided for by the slot in the adjacent upright of therframe 26. The opposite end of the shaft 34 upon which the roller 24 is mounted, is supported by self aligning bearing 38, carried by the upper extremity of bell crank lever 39. The bell crank lever 39 is fixed to the frame 26 by pivot pin 40 which extends through same and through the bell crank at a point adjacent the bearing 38. The lower extremity of the bell crank 39 is connected, by adjustable link 4I, to the bed plate r extension 42, whereby the upper pinch roll 24 is free to move vertically and relative to the swinging frame 26.

At the lower outer corner of the frame 26 there is a spring retarder including the perforated frame extension 43, through which the rod 44 exf tends, and upon either side of which are arranged coil springs 45 and 46. One end of the rod 44 is threaded through the bed plate extension 42, and nut 41 prevents its withdrawal. The springs abut at their adjacent ends against the frame extension 43, and at their outer ends against the adjusting nuts 48, and cooperating washer 49. This retarder arrangement, upon proper adjustment of the spring tension, will center the roller frame as regards the direction of travel of the work, and will permit the necessary oscillation to accommodate the pull resulting from the variation in speed of rotation between the pinch rolls and the mill rolls, as will more clearly appear.

A sectional guide trough extends the full length of the feed assembly, the sections being U-shaped in cross section and cut away to permit the exposure and contact of the work with the cylinders 3, and grooved rollers 4. The side walls of the guide trough are of sufficient height to limit the undesirable movement of the work. The work is first directed to the assembly from the mill by a guide trough section which is of less rwidth than the main trough, and includes the elongated body 5 I, of U-shaped cross section, and a cover plate 52.V This restricted trough extends through the frame 26 carrying the pinch rolls 24 and25, and terminates near the inner end of the first trough section 56. The inner wall 53 of the restricted trough terminates short of the end of the trough body, and is bent outwardly and rearwardly, as at 53, to form a fixed deflecting plate to direct the travel of the work. This first trough section is supported on the bed plate by standards 54. A hanger 55 supports the cover plate as shown. The feed line from the mill 5 to the trough 5I is shown at 56, and the return connection at 51. Both of these structures are conventional.

The tail Vof the guide trough is indicated by Y reference character 58, and includes the fin plate 59 and bumper 60. The bumper 6U includes one or more telescoping extensions, each comprising integral tubular portions 6|, and rod portions 62. The free end of the tubular portion 6I slides over the rod 62, against the tension of the spring 63. The spring 63 normally expands these telescoping parts and absorbs the impact against the buffer. An open-ended cylindrical casing 64 encloses the parts, and the end wall 65 of the cylinder is perforated and receives the free end of the telescoping rod section 62. Nuts 66 secure the parts together.

A gear 10, on the inner extremity of shaft 3|., meshes with gear 1I on the drive shaft 22. A gear 13 on the upper pinch roll shaft 34 meshes with the gear l0 and through this arrangement power is applied to cause rotation of the pinch rolls 24 and 25. It might be well to note at this point that the gears 10 and 13 are sufiiciently loose in their mesh to permit the slight oscillation of the upper shaft 34 for the purpose of releasing the gripping action of the pinch rolls as will more clearly appear.

The foregong description matter designates the various features, their construction, and arrangement by which the following operations are produced:

In the first instance attention is directed to the fact that the various operations are entirely automatic, and the movement of the bar A from the mill through the run-out returner mechanism is substantially continuous. This continuous movement of the bar includes its elevation or lowering from the lower to the upper pass or vice versa; the translation of the bar laterally so as to place it in position in front of the entering guide for the next pass; and the rotation of the bar on its longitudinal axis. To effect these operations by the mechanism, the rst step would be the emission of the bar from the rolling mill to the feed 56, the guide 5i, and the diagonal cylindrical rollers 3. These cylindrical rollers 3, travelling in a direction away from the mill 5, readily move the bar along and translate it laterally, as more clearly shown in Fig. 7. In this gure the movement of the bar is indicated by reference character A. The transverse movement of the bar is illustrated in dotted lines until it finally assumes its edged position in the groove rollers as shown at B. The bar, after being retarded in its progress by the buffer 60, its movement is reversed and its direction of Vtravel is towards the mill. It will be noted that these grooved rolls are set with their axes at right angles to the length of travel of the bar. The grooves in the rollers are r V-shaped and proportionately deep, to facilitate the positioning of a bar of narrow construction, or elliptically-shaped, to stand in its edged position as indicated. It will be further noted at this point that the bottoms of the grooves are substantially below the surface of the rollers 3, whereby the edging of the bar is facilitated. The bar, when properly positioned in the grooved rollers, starts on its return travel towards the Vmill and enters the pinch rolls shown more clearly in Fig. 2. The pinch rolls are driven and rotate so as tormove the bar at about its normal speed, or the speed at which it enters the mill. The bar, after it travels through the pinch rolls, moves along a trough 5l and enters the mill in its edged position, to be further reduced through the rolling operation. The length of the feed troughs and Yguides and the relative position of the pinch rolls 'as regards the mill will be determined by the nature of the work, particularly by the length CTI of the bar being rolled. To be more specic it will be obvious that the bar in its travel must enter the mill before leaving the pinch roll, and this fact will of vcourse be utilized in determining the relative location of the parts. As soon as the mill grips the bar, the work of the groovedV returner rolls is completed. It is at this point, i. e.,

when the bar is carried entirely by the pinch rolls and by the mill rolls, that the variation of travel between these parts may result in unsatisfactory operation. It being substantially impossible to regulate the speed of the pinch rolls identically withthe speed of the mill rolls, it is vpreferable that the surface speed of the former be kept a trifle below the surface speed of the latter. Furthermore, it is possible at times and not infrequent, that a moments hesitation develop-s as the bar reaches the mill rolls, before the mill grips; sometimes the mill refuses to grip. At such times additional push placed on the bar will frequently cause it to enter the mill. Therefore, there are at this point two very different conditions, either one of which may be set up very rapidly. Either the mill will grip the bar, and pull it away from the pinch rolls, or the mill will hesitate to grip the bar, and so attempt to stop its travel.

In the first case, the pinch rolls are so constructed that they release their hold on the bar, and allow the mill to pull it in without interference. In the second case, the pinch rolls instantly apply the necessary added push to the bar, causing it to enter the mill, and again, so soon as the bar has entered the mill, the pinch rolls release their hold as before.

The foregoing is accomplished as specifically pointed out supra by the pivotal arrangement of the upper roll of the pinch assembly, and the mounting of this assembly on a swinging frame. The pivotal arrangement of the upper roll provides a release for the bar and the pivoted frame permits a freedom of movement essential when there is a divergence in the speed of travel between the pinch rolls and the mill rolls.

By this construction it is apparent that, when the work is gripped by the mill rolls, a pull is set up in excess of the speed of delivery of the pinch rolls, the'frame 2B will move on the vertical trunnions 2l and E8 towards the mill. The movement or" the frame carries the entire pinch roll assembly mounted on the horizontal pivot 36. It is at this point that the upper roll 2li will be caused to oscillate slightly in a vertical plane due to the connection of the bearing 38 with the bell crank lever 39 which latter is secured at its lower end to the bed plate. In other words, the bell crank lever being fixed at its lower end through link connection di, will, upon a movement of the frame 2t, swing upon its pivot d and thereby elevate the roll 2li. The mounting of the pinch roll and frame 2% on the vertical trunnions 21 and Z functions further in instances where a positive gripping action is not secured by the contactingV roll races and the work, and the latter lags in its forward motion. Where such Va condition exists the pivoted frame will permit the rolls to shift their position rearwardly of the work, which results in a new point of contact between the moving parts and an increase in pressure on the bar by the pinch rolls. The result of these two factors is a more positiveforward movement of the bar to the mill. With reference to the pinch roll assembly, there is also to be considered the use of the self-aligning bearing which provides including the upper roll which is lmeans for accommodating such distances as may be created between the bearings, due to the movement of the parts. The location of the self-aligning bearing need not necessarily be at 38, but might be at the reverse end of the upper roll.

The present disclosure as regards the relative position of the pinch roll frame 2t and the bed plate is of material importance, and variations of this assembly will be necessary in instances where the runout returner is to operate the bar from l the lower pass to the upper pass, as distinguished from the upper pass to the lower pass. The supporting connection between the troughs and the bed plate may also be varied as the nature of the work may require. l

Certain details in the assembly such as the mounting of the motor, the arrangement of the flexible drive for the motor, and the frangible connection between the motor and the driven shaft, may be provided for as conventional in 2 such installations. A variance may also be made in the nature of the sections comprising the unit, particularly the trough sections, to permit the quick and easy removal of these parts in assembling or disassembling the structure. 2l

I claim:-

1. In combination with a rolling mill, a guide trough, a plurality of runout rolls each angularly arranged with respect to the trough, a plurality of return rolls, a frame pivoted at substantially 3 right angles to the axis of the mill rolls and positioned between the return rolls and the rolling mill, pinch rolls supported by said frame, resilient means for retaining said frame in normal position, and means for feeding work from said 3 mill to said runout rolls.

2. In Aa rolling mill assembly including runout rolls and return rolls, a pivoted frame between the rolling mill and the return rolls, a pair of co'- acting pinch rolls carried by said frame, means 4 for pivotally supporting one of sai-d rolls, and adjusting means for said support.

3. In a rolling mill assembly including runout and return. rolls, a pivoted frame between the runout and return rolls and the rolling mill, a 4 pair of co-acting pinch rolls carried by said frame, leans for positively driving said pinch rolls, and means for retaining said pivoted frame in normal position.

4l. In a rolling mill assembly including runout 5 Y and return rolls, a horizontally movable frame between the rolling mill and the runout and return rolls, a pair of co-acting pinch rolls carried by the frame, means for rotating said rolls, and means for 4retaining the horizontally movable frame in 5 normal position.

5. In a rolling mill assembly including runout and return rolls, a horizontally movable frame betweenv the runout and return rolls and the rolling mill, spring means for retaining said frame 6 in normal position, a pair of pinch rolls mounted in bearings carried by said frame, driving means for .said rolls, and means for automatically causing relative axial movement between said rolls.

6. In a rolling mill assembly including a plu- 6 rality of angularly arranged runout'rclls and a plurality of grooved return rolls, a frame mounted 'on vertical pivots located between the runout and return rolls and the mill, a horizontal pinch roll carried by xed bearings in said frame, a pivoted V'pinch roll cooperating with the xed roll, means for driving the pinch rolls, and means for retaining said frame in normal position.

Y 7. In a pinch roll assembly for-rolling mills, an

oscillating frame, a shaft mounted in Xed bearings carried by said frame, a pinch roll fixed on said shaft, a pivoted shaft.'l a pinch roll carried by said pivoted shaft and co-acting with the first mentioned pinch roll, and resilient means for retaining said frame in normal position.

8. In a rolling mill assembly, runout and return rolls, a frame positioned between the runout and return rolls and the mill, a pair of coacting pinch rolls carried by the frame, a pivoted support for one of said rolls, and means for swinging said pivote-d support.

9. In a rolling mill assembly, runout and return rolls, a pivoted frame positioned between the runout and return rolls and the mill rolls, a pair of co-acting pinch rolls carried by the frame, a pivoted support for one of said rolls, and means for swinging said pivoted support.

10. In a rolling mill assembly, rolling mill, runout and return rolls, a pivoted frame between the mill rolls and the runout and return rolls, a pair of co-acting pinch rolls carried by the frame, shafts supporting said pinch rolls, a pivoted bearing for one of said shafts, and means independent of the pivoted frame supporting the free end of the shaft mounted in the pivoted bearing.

1l. The substance of claim l0 characterized in that the means for supporting the free end of the shaft mounted in the pivoted bearing is adjustable.

12. In a rolling mill assembly, runout and return rolls, an oscillating frame between the mill an-d the runout and return rolls, a pinch roll carried by fixed bearings in said frame, a pivoted pinch roll cooperating with the fixed roll, means for driving the pinch rolls, and means for swinging the pivoted pinch roll upon oscillation of the frame.

13. In an assembly including a set of driven mill rolls, a plurality of angularly arranged cylindrical runout rolls, a plurality of grooved return rolls, a pivoted frame between the runout and return rolls and the mill rolls, driven pinch rolls carried by the frame, and means for compensating for the variance of speed between the pinch rolls and the mill rolls.

14. The substance of claim 13 characterized in that one of the driven pinch rolls is carried by a pivoted shaft.

15. The substance of claim 13 characterized in that one of the pinch rolls is carried by a shaft mounted in a pivoted bearing at one end and a floating bearing at its opposite end.

16. In an assembly of the character described, a set of driven mill rolls, a plurality of runout rolls, a plurality of return rolls, driving means for the runout and return rolls, a movable frame positioned between the runout and return rolls, and the mill rolls, a shaft carried in fixed bearings in said frame, a pinch roll on said shaft, a shaft mounted on a pivoted bearing in said frame, a oating bearing for the opposite end of the last mentioned shaft, a pinch roll carried by the last mentioned shaft and co-acting with the rst mentioned pinch roll, driving means for the pinch roll shafts, and means for releasing the pinch rolls upon movement of the frame.

17. In an assembly of the type described, a bed plate, a s-et of mill rolls, a guide trough, a plurality of angularly arranged runout rolls, a plurality of grooved return rolls positioned adjacent the outer ends of the runout rolls, driving means for the runout and return rolls, a frame mounted on vertical trunnions positioned between the runout and return rolls and the mill rolls, a shaft carried in fixed bearings in the frame,

19. The substance of claim 17 characterized in 10 that the means for retaining the frame in normal position is adjustable.

20. The substance of claim 17 characterized in that the bell crank connection and the resilient frame positioning means are both adjustable.

21. In an assembly of the character described,

a bed plate, a driven set of mill rolls, runout and return rolls, a pivoted frame positioned between the runout and return rolls and the mill rolls, pinch rolls carried by the pivoted frame, and 20 spring means connecting the free end of the pivoted frame to the bed plate.

22. The substance of claim 21 characterized in that the spring means include a tension spring at opposite sides of the pivotal aXs, and means 25 for varying the tension of the springs.

23. In a rolling mill assembly, runout and return rolls for conveying material from and to the mill assembly, an oscillating frame between the mill and the runout and return rolls, a pinch roll carried by fixed bearings in said frame, a pivoted pinch roll cooperating with the nxed roll, means for driving the pinch rolls, and means actuated by a retarded movement ofV the work to cause positive driving engagement between the pinch rolls and the material.

24. In a rollinfT mill assembly, runout and rcturn rolls for conveying material from and to the mill assembly, a horizontally oscillating frame between the mill and the runout and return rolls, a pinch roll carried by xed bearings in said frame, a pivoted pinch roll cooperating with the xed roll, means for driving the pinch rolls, and means actuated by retardedmovement of the work for swinging the oscillating frame and causing the positive engagement of the pivoted pinch roll with the material.

25. In an assembly of the character described, a set of driven mill rolls, a plurality of runout rolls, a plurality of return rolls, driving means for the runout and return rolls, a movable frame positioned between the runout and return rolls, and the mill rolls, a shaft carried in fixed bearings in said frame, a pinch roll on said shaft, a shaft mounted on a pivoted bearing in said frame, a floating bearing for the opposite end of the last mentioned shaft, a pinch roll carried by the last mentioned shaft and co-acting with the first mentioned pinch roll, driving means for the pinch roll shafts, means for causing more positive engagement Yof the pinch rolls with the material upon retarded movement of the latter, and means for releasing the pinch rolls upon normal movement of the material.

26. In a runout and return assembly for rolling mills, including a trough, an oscillating frame between the runout and return assembly, driven pinch rolls carried by the said frame, a plurality of spaced runout rolls each angularly arranged with respect to the trough, a plurality of spaced 70 return rolls positioned to receive material conveyed by said runout rolls, and guard means carried'by said return rolls.

RICHARD H. LOWNDES. 

